White House turns down Obamas request to move into Blair House

New York, Dec 13 (ANI): The White House has turned down a request from President-elect Barack Obamas family to move into Blair House in early January so that his daughters can start school on January 5.

The Obamas were told that Blair House, where incoming presidents usually stay in the five days before Inauguration Day, is booked in early January, a spokesperson for the Obama transition said.

We explored the idea so that the girls could start school on schedule. But, there were previously scheduled events and guests that couldnt be displaced, The New York Times quoted the spokesman, as saying.

It remained unclear who on the Bushes guest list outranked the incoming President.

Its not a public schedule. Its not a question of outranking the Obamas. Blair House will be available to them on January 15, said Sally McDonough, spokeswoman for First Lady Laura Bush, in refusing to disclose who was staying at Blair House.

McDonough said theres nothing more to say other than that its not available and wont be available until January 15. She added youre trying to make a story out of something thats not a story.

Meanwhile, the NYT quoted a State Department official, as saying that he didnt know of any foreign dignitaries staying at the Blair House in early January.

A White House official said that Bush does not have family or friends from Texas staying at the Blair House during the period, which the Obamas requested.

But Blair House, the official said, has been booked for receptions and gatherings by members of the outgoing Bush Administration. Those receptions, the official said, dont make it suitable for full-time occupancy by the Obamas yet.

Obama has been staying in Chicago with his family since the election; the Obamas have decided to send their two daughters, Malia and Sasha, to Sidwell